VIDEO: Spotlight on California Cannabis Industry Association
In this month’s NCIA video newsletter, we headed to Sacramento to attend the California Cannabis Industry Association‘s 2nd Annual Policy Conference. CCIA is NCIA’s state affiliate in California. Hear from CCIA members and California state legislators about the critical work CCIA does to represent the state’s industry, and how the NCIA/CCIA affiliation means members have a comprehensive and powerful voice at the state and federal levels. If your California cannabis business isn’t yet a member of CCIA, join today!
State of the States: NCIA’s Affiliate Program
What is NCIA’s state affiliate program?
Over the last two years, members from particular states have approached us here at NCIA with the idea of forming state-focused affiliates. While NCIA’s mission is dedicated to federal policy change and the support of a national industry that is coordinated, sustainable, and responsible, we’ve begun a journey with a few of these dedicated members looking to do the same at the state level. Many of our members are already familiar with our state affiliates in California and Illinois.
NCIA dedicates its policy work to issues at the federal level, which informs the playing field for all 50 states. However, individual state cannabis markets have their own unique needs and challenges. An NCIA state affiliate is tasked with pursuing the same priorities as NCIA’s federal mission – advocacy, education, and community – but with a zoomed-in focus on state legislation and regulations, city ordinances, and local networking and business development. The combination of NCIA and a state affiliate gives members a powerfully unified voice in influencing legislation that is fair towards our industry.
How does the state affiliate program work?
Each state affiliate is an independent entity from NCIA, which elects its own board of directors and has its own decision-making processes. The affiliates are non-profit organizations, and dues are collected from members to be used for state advocacy work.
Membership dues for the state affiliate are split between the state affiliate and NCIA, and members of the state affiliate are automatically added to the rosters of NCIA’s national membership, although many members still choose to maintain separate memberships with both the state affiliate and NCIA.
Our state affiliates currently exist in the two most populous states with active medical marijuana programs in place: California and Illinois. We checked in with the leadership of each affiliate to hear more about their progress and activities at the state level.
CCIA’s Executive Director and co-founder is Nate Bradley, who works closely with their official lobbyist, Amy Jenkins, to influence fair legislation and policies for the ever-evolving cannabis industry. CCIA’s membership currently sits at 132 members and growing.
“In 2015, CCIA hosted numerous well-attended membership networking and educational events throughout the state,” says Bradley. “We also added new staff to our ranks. In the fall we hired a Membership Coordinator. This in turn greatly increased our ability to reach out and provide services to our current members and build new membership at the same time.”
CCIA focuses on the state regulatory structure for California’s cannabis industry, working to influence regulations for the medical marijuana industry in the state legislature. CCIA has endorsed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), a full legalization state ballot initiative being proposed for 2016.
“More than any other legalization measures competing for the 2016 state ballot, AUMA represents the collective input of California’s lawful medical cannabis industry,” said CCIA President Sean Luse, who is also COO of the nation’s longest continually operating medical cannabis dispensary, Berkeley Patients Group.
So what are CCIA’s plans for the upcoming year?
“CCIA has a lot of big plans for 2016,” says Bradley. “Currently we are planning on bringing a new deputy director, increasing the amount of events we hold, developing our local government outreach program, and increasing the amount of membership committees we have.”
“We will also be heavily involved in any legislation clean-up, tracking the regulatory rule-writing process, and last but not least, making sure we are actively involved in influencing any cannabis ballot initiatives that may go before voters in November.”
CCIA’s 2015 victories are listed here, along with details of the requests that were successfully negotiated and included in the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act.
Kayvan Khalatbari, co-founder of Denver Relief, serves on the board of directors for ILCIA and offers insight into the progress of its formation over the last year. “With all the work the National Cannabis Industry Association is doing to progress policy, advocacy, and education on the federal level, it’s important to have that same influence on the state level,” says Khalatbari.
“We’re working hard to create a model that is in line with NCIA’s mission and tone, but also considerate of the cultural and political nuances present in Illinois. We’ve assembled a great group to form our initial board of directors, which includes cultivation and dispensary operators, attorneys, lobbyists and ancillary service providers… in a sense, most stakeholders in this new and exciting industry. We intend on bringing aboard a doctor and a patient representative as well in this new year to ensure all voices relevant to the success of this industry have a seat at the table.”
Kayvan Khalatbari, co-founder of Denver Relief and board member of ILCIA
“With our current 25 members we have some room to grow, but have no doubt that will happen as we become more active and visible in 2016. Between assisting in the development and implementation of the NCIA local Cannabis Caucuses here in Chicago, assembling our own quarterly educational symposiums, networking events, and a lobby day in April, as well as collaborating with other groups to add qualifying conditions in the medical cannabis program, we’re poised to make a big push in having a positive and responsible influence as this industry gets off the ground here.”
“The bridge to our national partners at NCIA can only benefit that push forward and help ensure that cannabis businesses in Illinois are represented at all levels of government for years to come.”
Looking to get involved in one of our state affiliates? Visit their websites:
Guest Post: Deal for Regulations Passes California Legislature
by Nate Bradley, Executive Director of California Cannabis Industry Association
We did it! After almost 20 years without statewide regulations, the California State Legislature has taken an important first step in creating a legal framework for medical cannabis. On September 11th at 11:47 pm, CCIA staff watched as the legislature sent a package of bills to the Governor’s office. Those bills – AB 266, AB 243, and SB 643 – combined to make the Medical Marijuana Regulation & Safety Act (MMRSA).
The MMRSA establishes the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation under the Department of Consumer Affairs. The Department of Food and Agriculture has responsibility for regulating cultivation and processing, the Department of Public Health is tasked with developing standards for the manufacture, testing, and production and labeling of all cannabis products, and the Department of Pesticide Regulation oversees developing pesticide standards. For more information on what this legislation does, please check out CCIA’s “MMSRA Cheat Sheet” here.
We think it’s fair to say most CCIA members understand the need for regulation and are glad California has started the process. That said, we believe parts of the bills need fixing. We are eager to hear what you think. We will continue relying on feedback from our allies in the industry to help us develop follow-up legislation — and to take part in the rule-making process — to address these issues. That said, the clear message from our members has been: even strict regulation is better than no regulation at all.
Nate Bradley, cofounder of the California Cannabis Industry Association, an independent state affiliate of NCIA
We also hope this legislation will put California in compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice guidelines, which ought to end federal prosecution of lawful cannabis operators in California. The citizens of California spoke clearly when they voted for medical cannabis in 1996; their elected representatives have just spoken again. We hope the federal government will respect California’s clear desire to have a well-regulated medical cannabis industry.
Our expectation is that California will now be able to take its rightful place as the center of investment and innovation in the cannabis economy. Governor Brown and his colleagues in the legislature have just given the green light to let California’s cannabis industry become the thriving, tax-paying, job-creating industry it was always destined to become.
Nate Bradley, based in Sacramento, is the executive director and cofounder of the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA). He is responsible for CCIA’s public policy advocacy and political strategy in California’s State Capitol. Nate also has ten years of education and experience in law enforcement and is a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
NCIA Board Candidate Statement – Dr. Lakisha Jenkins
By Dr. Lakisha Jenkins, California Cannabis Industry Association (CA)
It is both an honor and humbling experience to be nominated for the NCIA Board of Directors. I am excited about the potential of the opportunity to extend my dedication and passion in the area advocating for responsible business practices and corporate accountability within the cannabis industry to a national level. If elected for this position, I will bring to the Board both direct practice and competent experience with executive level management and fundraising. I would bring to the position my corporate expertise in a variety of settings, across different institutions, cultures, and business industries. I currently serve as President of the Board of Directors for the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), which is the state affiliate of NCIA and the trade organization representing both the cannabis and industrial hemp industries in California at the local and state levels. In addition to service with CCIA, I also serve on the Health, Hunger and Wellness Coalition Board for the City of Patterson and the Board of the Alameda County 4H – an extension of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources division. Currently, I hold a Doctorate in Naturopathy and am a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. My passion for natural health and alternative healing therapies started while researching alternative treatment options as my eldest child, Kiona, battled with brain cancer. I have served as President of the Kiona T Jenkins Foundation for Natural Health since its inception in 2003. I believe that my background, education, and my experiences in administration, leadership, and fundraising have prepared me to be an effective member of the Board of Directors and a strong advocate for NCIA’s diverse base of professional and business members. I am immensely grateful for this nomination and eager to serve if elected. I am asking for your vote and support in this leadership position and challenge.
